Boca takes a victory lap after landing Trader Joe's

City Council: Landing upscale grocer means housing plan is succeeding

BOCA RATON — Boca Raton's City Council met in a special session Thursday with a single mission worth delaying vacation for: Bringing Trader Joe's to town.

The 12,500 square-foot specialty food store is part of the "East City Center" the City Council approved unanimously Thursday with all due haste. It had been on the agenda for last week's meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, but proper notice hadn't been given for that to happen.

So a special session was called before the City Council went on its month-long summer break. And rare applause broke out after the vote.

"Welcome Trader Joe's to the city of Boca Raton," said Constance Scott, chairwoman of the CRA.

For proponents of Boca's push for more downtown housing, landing the new high-end market is proof the city is going in the right direction. No corporate incentives were given for Trader Joe's to come here.

"This is going to be an amazing complement to what we have been trying to achieve in our downtown," Scott said. "It's going to be a big piece to that important puzzle."

Right now, the California-based grocery with a cult-like following has just three other Florida locations. The chain has also announced plans to open stores in Palm Beach Gardens, Pinecrest in Miami-Dade and Winter Park in Central Florida. Another possible store is rumored for Delray Beach.

Marc Wiener, the project architect, said he had a statement to read on behalf of the developer to the CRA that addressed that very question: "If it were not for your stewardship of our downtown and the momentum you have created through the quality multifamily residential projects which have been approved during the last couple of years, we would not have been able to attract Trader Joe's to locate in downtown Boca Raton."

Higher-rising buildings and rental units of smaller sizes have consumed many hours of the CRA's meetings, with some saying dense housing is going to spoil what makes Boca special. Others, however, have said bringing more residents downtown is how it will become a thriving place.

Thursday, however, there was no sign of any rancor. Gabriel Banfi, a resident of Boca for the past 21 years, was among the few members of the public at Thursday's session and said he was excited about the coming of Trader Joe's.

"To shop there is sort of an adventure," he said. "You find excellent things you don't find in other stores."

Representatives from the city's development services showed off some of the particulars of East City Center at 855 S. Federal Highway, which, in addition to the grocery store, will also have a bank, retail and office space.

Arches, towers and a barrel tile roof will add touches inspired by the architecture of Addison Mizner, Boca Raton's first developer, said Susan Lesser, senior planner for the city.

Glenn Gromann, chairman of the Boca Raton Downtown Advisory Committee, said this is just the beginning of the city reaching new heights.

"Once a trendsetter like Trader Joe's enters the market, others will follow them," Gromann said. "It really brings a lot of excitement to downtown. In a lot of ways Boca Raton is an undiscovered gem. There is so much more potential for the city."

But Ann Witte, an economics professor who lives downtown, said there are already plenty of high-end grocers in the city. The downtown Publix is just a block away. Fresh Market is across Dixie Highway. And Whole Foods Market is not too far away, either.